Check-wire reel for corn-planters



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

, Y G. 0. J-ANNEY."

CHECK WIRE REBLFOR CORN PLANTERS.

- N0. 556,26 8. V Patented Mar. 10,1896.

' -WITNESSES: g ltNgvENTflR F d 7 4 BY I,

3 sheets shee t 3.

(No Model.) 7

- G. 'G. JANNEY. CHECK WIRE REEL FOR CORN BLANTERS. No.- 556,268.Patented Mar. 10,1896.

WITNESSES: I mvemon UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE CAMPBELL JANNEY, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA.

CHECK-WIRE REEL FOR CORN-PLANTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,268, dated March10, 1896.

Application filed April 27, 1895. $erial No. 547,312. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE CAMPBELL J ANNEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

, siding at Muncie, in the county of Delaware a detail of the same.

and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Checkire Reels for Corn-Planters, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for reeling upcheck-wire on cornplanters as the machine is drawn forward; and myinvention consists in the constructions and combinations of partshereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rearportion of a corn planter to which my invention has been applied. Fig. 2is a sectional view of the reel. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the devicesshown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4: and 5 are respectively a partial sectional anda rear elevation of the actuating devices for the check-wire. Fig. 6 isFigs. 7 and S are detail views showing modifications.

' Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in theseveral views.

In the said drawings, a a represent the frame of the rear part of theplanter, generally called the wheel-frame. a a are the wheels, and a theaxle supporting the same. Extending across the frame a a is a shaft a onwhich is the usual treadle or lever a, which forms a part of the raisingand lowering devices now in general use on corn-planters. The axle a issupplied with a sprocket-wheel a, such as is now quite generallyemployed for driving the feeding devices of the planter.

At the rear of the axle a and supported in suitable standards a, fromthe frame a a, is a reel 19, upon which the check-row wire is wound, theconstructions thus far described being common in planters now in use.This reel 1), I supply with trunnions b 19 which are adapted to besupported in the usual hearings in the standards a These trunnions areeach screw-threaded on their inner ends and adapted to screw into thewooded portions of the ordinary wire-reelb, suitable metallic collars orwashersl') being preferably secured to the ends of said reel to form asubstantial bearing for said trunnions, the trunnions being thusremovably secured in said reel. On one of the trunnions b I pro- 'videan adjustable friction device, which consists essentially of a collar19*, secured to the said trunnion, and a sprocket-wheel b loose on thetrunnion. The opposing faces of this sprocket-wheel and collar arepreferably separated by a washer 19 of leather or other suit ablematerial, and a spring I) on the trunnion b is adapted to press thesprocketwheel against the washer and collar, so as to form a frictionaldriving connection between the sprocket-wheel and said trunnion. The endof the trunnion b is also preferably screwthreaded, as shown at and ascrew-threaded hand-wheel b placed thereon, which presses against thespring I) and furnishes the means for adjusting the tension of saidspring by turning said hand wheel on the screw threaded portion. Thishand-wheel or adjusting device is preferably provided at one end withnotches b into which may be fitted a pin 1), extended through the shaftor trunnion b to hold said hand-wheel in different positions ofadjustment.

A driving-chain c connects the sprocketwheel b with the driving-sprocket(1 the distance between the respective sprockets being preferably suchthat the same driving-chain c which is used for driving the reel mayalso be employed for driving the feeding devices from the sprocket-wheela in the usual manner.

To provide for picking up the wire and distributing it evenly on thereel, I employ a vibratin g arm d,havin g at the bottom a suitableopening d with a flaring mouth,or, if desired, provided with a roller (1as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This vibrating arm (I is preferably supportedon the lever or treadle m, which forms a part of the lifting device,asdescribed, and is supported thereon in such manner that it is capable ofa lateral vibration to cause the lower portion of said arm tovibrate infront of and below the reel, and thus carry the wire which passesthrough the lower end of said arm to different portions of said reel anddistribute it evenly thereon. The vibrating arm (1 is provided at thetop with laterally-projecting foot-supports (1 which may, if desired, beformed integral with said arm, thus making the arm substantiallyT-shaped. A trunnion 61 connected to the treadle or lever a is adaptedto form a bearing for said arm (Z, on which it oscillates. This trunnion(Z may be secured to the lever or treadle a in any suitable manner.Means are preferably provided, however, by which the arm d and lever (1.maybe connected together to prevent the oscillation of said ar1nas, forinstance, by constructing a projection a on said lever adapted toreceive a pin or bolt cl, which extends through said arm and throughsaid projection. Means are preferably provided for allowing the arm toyield in the direction of the reel to prevent or lessen the shock ofvibrations produced by the knots on the check wire passing through thelower end of the arm. This I preferably accomplish by constructin g thearm in two parts, the lower part being hinged, as shown at d, in a planeat right angles to the hinge or trunnion (Z said lower portion beingheld in its normal position by a spring d. In Figs. at and 5 I haveshown the upper portion of the arm provided with a projection d throughwhich passes a link d pivoted to the lower part of the arm, said linkhaving at the outer end an adj ustable nut d", the spring (2 beingplaced be tween the projection d and the nut (1, so that the lowerportion of the arm is held yieldingl y in its normal position. The upperpart of the arm is also provided witha socket (1 into which a hand-lever(I may be inserted, if desired. This socket (1 may be placed immediatelyover the trunnion d, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or at one end of one ofthe treadles (1*, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

In Figs. 7 and S I have shown some modifications in the construction.The arm (I, instead of being hinged below the treadle or levor a, asshown in Figs. 4 and 5, is hinged above the treadle, the lower portionbeing bifurcated to straddle said treadle. The trunnion (Z in"this case,instead of being connected to the arm or treadle a", so as to projectfrom the end thereof, extends forward, with the bifurcated or openport-ion of the arm embracing said lever or treadle. In this case theprojection (Z on the upper portion of the arm is dispensed with, and aspring (Z is connected directly from the lower part of the arm (1 to thetreadle a, or to any other suitable portion of the machine or frame.

In the normal position for operation the driving-chain c is placed onthe sprocketwheels 0. The lever (l is loose on its supporting-trunnionso as to vibrate from side to side. The operator, with his foot on thetreadles d vibrates the arm alternately as the machine is drawn forward,the forward movement of the machine causing the reel to revolve throughthe driving connections described and the friction devices on thereeltrunnion. By adjusting the tension of the spring 0 any desiredamount of tension may be placed on the wire as it is wound on the reel,the slipping of the parts of the friction device preventing any possiblebreakage of the wire. By vibrating the arm (1 the operator causes thewire to be wound uniformly on the reel, operating the same through themedium of the foot-treadles for this purpose. If desired, however, thehand-lever (1 may be placed in the socket (Z so that the arm may beoperated by hand instead of by foot.

hen not in use for operating the reel, the sprocket-wheel a and chain 0may be used for driving the feeding devices if they are in the properposition. If the ordinary feeding driving-sprockets should be within theframe, as shown in Fig. 3, then an additional sprocket may be providedon the main axle for driving the reel. \Vhen the reeling device is notin use, the foot-treadles (Z forming the upper part of the vibratinglever, may be secured rigidly to the lifting-lever a by the bolt or pin(Z so as to form part of said lever and take the place of the usualf0ot-treadlcs employed for operating the lifting devices. In this casethe lower hinged portion of the arm. may be dispensed with.

It will be seen from the above description that I provide a very simpleand eilective device for reeling up check-wire. The constructions aresuch that they may be applied to machines already in use without changein the construction. of said machines, the parts of the reeling devicebeing modified to suit the special constructions of the machine to whichit is to be applied.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with acheck-wire reel and its driving devices, of a vibrating arm havingfoot-treadles as described, said arm being hinged in a plane at rightangles to the line of vibration, and a yielding connection for thehinged portion of said arm, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a reel and driving devices therefor, and avibrating arm having laterally-projecting foot-treadles, said arm beingconnected to the lifting-lever of the planter, and means for connectingsaid vibrating arm to said lever whereby the vibrations of said arm arepreventcdand the foottreadles connected to said lever so as to operatethe same, substantially as specified.

The combination with a check-row reel and its driving devices, and avibrating arm journaled on a suitable trunnion secured to the liftingarm or lever of a corn-planter, said vibrating arm being provided at itslower end with a roller over which the wire is adapted to pass,substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a cheek-wire reel and its driving devices, of avibrating lever arranged in front of and below said reel, said vibratinglever being journaled on a trunnion forming a part of the liftingdevices of said corn-planter, projecting foot-treadles on said arm, andmeans for connecting said arm to said lifting devices whereby thefoottreadles may be employed for operating the lifting devices orvibrating said arm, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a reel and its the lower part being providedwith a guide for the wire, and a spring connected to said lower hingedpart, substantiallyas specified. I11 testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand this 22d day of April, A. D. 1895.

GEORGE CAMPBELL JANNEY.

\Vitnesses:

P. R. J ANNEY, ADDIE HATHAWAY.

